What is the life of a co-ed fraternity/professional fraternity like?

<p>As the title states, what is it like being in one (such as a volunteer/community service based frat or a business frat)? </p>

<p>I recently rushed for a sorority and I quite enjoyed it but found that if you didn't party every weekend, you were on the bottom of the social chain in your sorority and it was very difficult to "fit in" and even "network" even though I liked some of my sisters.</p>

<p>I dropped this sorority before initiation, nonetheless, and have decided that maybe a co-ed fraternity such as business or community service may be more suited for me. I'm a journalism (marketing/PR) major so I think being in a high-regarded organization such as a fraternity/sorority will definitely help with networking. However, I don't want to spend every weekend partying if that's what it takes to even takes to have your sisters realize you exist.</p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

<p>bumpbumpbump. </p>

<p>Any experiences or friends who have had experiences?</p>

<p>I’m pledging Alpha Phi Omega, a community service frat. It is a dry frat with no house, so no frat affiliated parties. Outside of the leadership and fellowship requirements (fellowships just means hanging out with at least 4 other brothers, leadership meaning hosting a fellowship or community service project), it’s pretty flexible and lax compared to other Greek organizations.</p>

<p>pledging is sometimes strenuous but not a lot of commitment afterwards</p>

<p>I’m in two of them, Alpha Phi Omega (community service) and a pre-law fraternity.</p>

<p>APO is pretty straightforward. Our chapter is huge so there’s opportunities to meet a lot of people while volunteering. Honestly I’m just doing it so it doesn’t look like I’m just picking my nose in my dorm all day long. I know other people that put a lot more effort into the community and brotherhood aspect of it, and they seem to get a lot out of it.</p>

<p>My pre-law frat is much different. It’s smaller, only around 100 people, and it’s a LOT more social. We throw a couple parties a month at members houses and have a lot of social events. The professional aspect is good too, but my favorite part is the socialness of it. I’ve made a lot of good friends… Definitely a lot more like a normal social fraternity than APO, since we’re not “dry”.</p>

<p>Of course, every chapter is going to differ in terms of how they’re run. I’d ask people you know at your university in different co-ed professional fraternities about what they do. I know the business fraternity here is similar to my pre-law one in that there’s a good amount of parties and drinking that goes on, but other ones may forbid that sort of thing.</p>